I Told You To Run But You Didn't (Georgia) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

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Finished

Georgia’s POV

My voice was tight, a vain attempt to re-establish a boundary that no longer existed. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He let out a low, amused chuckle, the sound doing nothing to calm my racing heart. “Are you scared, Ms. Sinclair?” he asked, his voice a soft taunt. “I thought I hired a soldier.” He didn’t move an inch, forcing the choice to be mine. “Come closer, Georgia.”

Scared? Of course I was scared. He had just revealed the depths of his monstrous enterprise and unleashed a terrifying rage on his own blood. But fear was a luxury I could no longer afford. Showing it would be a failure, and I could not fail this test.

I forced my feet to move. One step. Then another.

Each step felt like I was walking through a minefield, my heart a bomb ready to detonate with every beat.

What game is this? I wondered, my mind racing. A punishment for my defiance? A test of my nerve? The whispers I’d heard at long-forgotten parties echoed in ny head-the Lunatic Son. Maybe he really was just insane.

I stopped an arm’s length away, close enough to feel the heat from his body, and lifted my chin, meeting his dark gaze.

“It’s monstrous,” I whispered, “What you’re planning with that technology. It’s a violation.”

His smile was a slow, cruel, and deeply amused thing. “Is it? Or is it just… efficient? Every government, every army, every corporation in the world craves control, Georgia. I’m just perfecting the product.”

“They still give people a choice!” I shot back.

He lowered his head then, bringing his face level with mine. He was so close that I could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes and feel the warmth of his breath ghosting across my lips.

His voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper that was for me and me alone.

“And I gave you a choice. Remember it,” he murmured. You have nothing to say about my business. Yo are in this room for one reason, and one reason only: to find your brother. Stick to the terms of our agreement.”

The sheer intensity of his presence was suffocating. I was overwhelmed and took a hasty step back to create some space, but my heel caught on the edge of the plush rug. I stumbled backward, a gasp escaping my lips.

An arm like a steel band shot out, wrapping around my waist, and he yanked me forward, pulling me flush against his hard body to keep me from falling.

My hands were pressed flat against his chest, and I could feel the steady, powerful beat of his heart under my palm. He stared down at me, his eyes dark with an emotion so intense it stole the air from my lungs.

The world seemed to stop, the space between our lips shrinking to nothing. Is he going to…

The office door swung open.

Harvey froze mid-stride, a folder in his hand, his eyes widening in pure shock at the sight of us locked in an

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11:44 Sat, Mar 7 A M

Chapter 41

embrace. “My apologies, sir!” he stammered, immediately backing out and pulling the door shut.

Finished

Estevan didn’t let go of me for a long, charged beat. He held my gaze, that slow, predatory smile returning to his lips. Finally, he released me and straightened his suit, completely unfazed by the interruption.

He raised his voice, his tone returning to its normal, commanding level.

“Get back in here, Harvey. What is it?”

As Harvey slipped back into the room, I mumbled a quick excuse and made my way to the washroom on unsteady legs.

I gripped the edge of the marble sink, splashing cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes wide and dark.

eyes. I What was that? I thought, replaying the feeling of his bolly pressed against mine, the intensity in his haven’t felt anything like that in my entire life. My mariage to Lucas hadn’t just been boring; it had been a void. I had been numb for three years.

And this man, Estevan, made me feel fear, rage, and a terrifying, electric aliveness that I hadn’t known I was missing.

As if summoned by the thought, my phone buzzed on the counter. Lucas.

A wave of pure irritation washed over me. I should have blocked his number. But I was done running. I answered, my

voice cold as ice. “What do you want, Lucas?”

your ruby

left His voice was a low, smug whisper. “Gia. I was cleaning out our old room. It seems you necklace behind.” He paused, letting the cruelty land. “Should I keep it, or just throw it out?”

My blood ran cold. The necklace. The last thing my mother ever gave me. My hand flew to my throat, feeling for the familiar weight that wasn’t there. I had been so frantic packing, I hadn’t even realized.

“Lucas, no,” I breathed, all the fight draining from my voice, replaced by pure panic. “Please, don’t. It’s all I have left of her. Just give it back to me.”

“Of course,” he said, his voice dripping with false generosity. “With one condition.”

I held my breath. “What?”

“Have dinner with me. Tonight. Alone.”

The line went dead before I could answer, leaving me staring at my own horrified reflection, trapped by my past all over again.

I scoffed, a soft, angry sound in the quiet washroom. I checked the time on my phone-hours had passed; it was already getting dark. I took a deep breath, smoothe the non-existent wrinkles from my skirt, and walked back to Estevan’s office, my face a mask of cool professionalism.

He was on a call, but he looked up as I entered, his eyes questioning, I waited until he hung up.

“I need to request leave for the evening,” I said, my voice formal. “A personal matter has come up that requires my attention.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Does this ‘personal matter’ have a name? Does it, perhaps, answer to ‘Lucas’?”

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